Vintage Crochet Bags & Where to Find Patterns

Talk about beautiful crochet! These are two small bags that my grandma gave me, made by D.L. Traxler, a friend of the family, way back when. 

Knitting is really my medium, but crochet is just fantastic, and these pieces show it. The stitches are very tiny, the lining lovely, and the clear time and effort put into each are remarkable.

These little wonders had me looking back at some of the other crocheters "back in the day."

Bette Davis crocheting between takes
1930s/Early 1940s

To investigate more vintage crochet, there are some great books to check out:
Loop Vintage Crochet
Vintage Crochet Patterns
20 Vintage Crochet Patterns
Crochet, Knit, Flower and Ruffled Doilies
Vintage Crochet: "30 Gorgeous Designs for Home, Garden, Fashion, Gifts"
Vintage Crochet For Your Home: Best-Loved Patterns for Afghans, Rugs and More
Vintage 1940's Crochet Patterns - Doilies, Shrugs, Afghans, Purses

For vintage knitting, check out:

35 Vintage Sweater Knitting Patterns from the 1940's - 1960's

Vintage Knits by Kaffe Fassett, Sarah Dallas, Kim Hargreaves, Martin Storey, Sharon Peake

Vintage Knitting by Claire Montgomerie

There's even a Vintage Knitting Magnet!